"I still can't believe I'm getting paid for doing what is really a hobby," admits Gary Mavers, best known for his role as Liverpudlian doctor, Andrew Attwood, in Peak Practice.

His onscreen bedside manner might have got women's hearts racing but, offscreen, he's a man's man, chucking in the odd expletive and happy to discuss Liverpool FC.

The RADA-trained actor quit the popular drama after six years and eight series to take a two-and-a-half year break to enjoy the "nice things" - time with his wife and three little girls.

When we speak, the 38-year-old is eight weeks into a 12-week tour of the psychological thriller, Bad Blood, in which he plays alongside ex-Eastender Gillian Taylforth.

Down-to-earth, garrulous and with a firm handle on "celebrity status," he became bored with Dr Attwood and felt he had taken the role as far as he could, although he relished such a widely-exposed character.

"You become very lazy doing TV," says Gary.

"Especially playing the same part. You don't realise how lazy you become and how boring you can become as an actor.

"It was a big decision to leave, but I stand by it and I am glad I took the time off. I didn't want to get to the stage where I didn't like going into work, because I like my job.

"I didn't want it to become like the man who goes to work in an office"

My ears prick up. "What, a bloke like me?" I rib.

"No, I didn't mean it like that" He lets out an exasperated sigh and shows genuine concern.

Brought up in Huyton to working class parents - "Dad's a joiner, me mam's just a housewife" - he assures me acting is the "best job in the world."

And the downside?

"You can't do things like pick your nose at traffic lights anymore."

He still remembers the day he broke the news of his intended career to his dad.

Says Gary: "Initially he said to me: Acting! What, acting the goat?'

"He finally came round and when I got into RADA they were very supportive."

The demands of Peak Practice were round the clock. On his weeks off he would do other projects and then link up again with the cast almost seamlessly.

He once worked 87 consecutive days without a day off and he didn't see his now five-year-old daughter until she was four-months-old.

"Yeah, it can be hard work for the money, but don't get me wrong. It's not laying bricks."

He briefly sums up Bad Blood. Gary plays the part of Tom, with Gillian Taylforth the part of Vic. They are a happy, successful couple whose only flaw is the absence of a longed-for child. The cosy picture is shattered when Tom learns he has a 19-year-old daughter from a previous relationship.

He said: "This is not as relaxing as TV. There's no: cut, we'll go back and do that again,' you get one chance and one chance only."

As fans of the red half of Merseyside, we discuss the previous night's demolition of Manchester United away to Real Madrid.

"I really thought Man U were battered," says Gary. "It's good though. It might make them realise they're not the best."

He also puts me right on the wider team game of much-maligned goal-shy striker Emile Heskey. "I like Heskey, I think he gets an awful lot of stick and I always thought he was a great buy."

Celebrity status has opened doors and closed them.

"Sometimes you can walk into a nightclub and you get the: "Yeah, we'll look after you," or it might be, "You're not getting in! Who do you think you are?"

Surely he must get annoyed with the attention.

"No, why should I?" he asks.

"I can't understand these people who get annoyed because someone recognises them from something they've done on televisionthat's who put them on the map, that's who pays their wages."

Bad Blood is showing nightly and with matinees at the Blackpool Grand Theatre between Monday, April 28, and Saturday, May 3. Tickets on 01253-290190.

April 24, 2003 10:30